Dane’s Dessert Cafe Brings More Sweets to The Short North

Dane’s Dessert Cafe opened their doors at 14 East Poplar Avenue a little over a month ago, and have been serving up crepes, cakes and other desserts ever since. What makes Dane’s different from other local bakeries is their dining experience which resembles more of a restaurant than a place for take-out pastries.

We recently spoke to Kay Will, Owner of Dane’s Dessert Cafe, to find out more about this new addition to The Short North:

Q: First, can you tell us a little about yourself?

A: I am a software engineer by profession, but I grew up in Jamaica where my mom had a store where we all participated as kids. I worked in the restaurant industry while going to college in Canada, and it has always been a dream of mine to own a business.

Q: What drew you to this location in the Short North?

A: The Short North is a growing area in Central Ohio, which is surrounded by several event venues, so people from the suburbs tend to come to this area. We are new to Columbus, but we thought it would be the best place to start.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your menu?

A: Our specialty is crepes — both sweet and savory — as well as Belgian waffles. We do carry a wide variety of desserts including cakes, sundaes, shakes and smoothies. We also carry coffee and tea. Since opening, the items that people are loving the most include the crème brûlée, carrot cake and the “Rock my Boat Crepe”, which is made with nutela, chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and chocolate sauce.

Q: Desserts seem to be going through a lot of trends and fads over the past few years… cupcakes, crepes, pies… what do you think is hot right now and what do you see being hot in the next year or two?

A: Over the past few years, sales of coffee shop desserts have seen a dramatic growth. As that market becomes overcrowded with new businesses, chefs are seeking a new way of keeping desserts interesting. One new and interesting way of doing desserts is through Dessert-Only restaurants like Dane’s. These have been popular in major cities for awhile, but can now be found in many smaller towns throughout the United States. Customers like the idea of having the dining experience, which is not usually offered in a bakery or coffee shop environment. Dessert industry trends are leading toward wider selections of products while also keeping high quality.

Q: Any upcoming events that we should know about?

A: Every Friday evening we host “Date Night”. Between 6pm and midnight, customers can dine while listening to smooth Jazz ensembles by local band Sensational Reasons. All Customers will also receive 25% off their purchase off any dessert item.

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Walker is the co-founder of ColumbusUnderground.com and TheMetropreneur.com along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media from a hobby into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.

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Walker is the co-founder of ColumbusUnderground.com and TheMetropreneur.com along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media from a hobby into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.